Why is it that all ProKennex racquets are for advanced players (NTRP 4+) only??

I even took a long hard look at their website and in their own descriptions they say the same.

So does one have to play for a few years, get the ranking up there, develop TE and then move to them? (dumb strategy)

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The sinister side of me thinks that by claiming they should only be used by 4.0 players or better, you are eliminating the people below that who almost certainly have technical problems with their game that could contribute to injuries more so than the racket.

The sinister side of me thinks that by claiming they should only be used by 4.0 players or better, you are eliminating the people below that who almost certainly have technical problems with their game that could contribute to injuries more so than the racket.

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Not so sinister. I think the player ratings recommendations are nothing short of ridiculous. Look at enough racquets at TW and you will soon realize that these ratings/recommendations are nonsense and would have anyone less than 4.0 hitting with a stiff, oversized sub 10 oz racquet.. I have lent my Redondo MP (and other substantial racquets) to beginners/intermediates who have no preconceptions of what type of racquet is suitable to them and very often they prefer the feel and performance of the heavier sticks. Rarely have I heard "it is too heavy".

Not so sinister. I think the player ratings recommendations are nothing short of ridiculous. Look at enough racquets at TW and you will soon realize that these ratings/recommendations are nonsense and would have anyone less than 4.0 hitting with a stiff, oversized sub 10 oz racquet.. I have lent my Redondo MP (and other substantial racquets) to beginners/intermediates who have no preconceptions of what type of racquet is suitable to them and very often they prefer the feel and performance of the heavier sticks. Rarely have I heard "it is too heavy".

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Exactly. I grew up playing heavy, flexible sticks and graduated onto stiffer lighter ones. Now back to heavier/flexier after a re-occurrence of TE. Have a Ki5 incoming which I hope is going to give me Pure Drive like performance without the associated arm related issues. Played a Copper ace 20 years ago and this is the first time I have gone for a modern PK frame, having been seduced by Wilson and recently Babolat.

Similar to me then Danix, used the old PK Copper Ace back in the day. Have hit with it recently and it's incredibly low powered. Don't know how I got the ball over the net as a 14 year old!

Ki5 coming on Monday, what's your experience of it?

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I dislike the Ki5, but I've acclimated to it. It's the only thing I can play without pain right now. The Q Tour feels a lot better to me, but the weight bothers my arm. The Q5 is a slightly stiffer Ki5 and I will likely move to that.

Too true Steve. For a country of 65 million people it appears we have one online retailer of PK racquets. Thanks god for TW Europe, hopefully they have saved my PD induced throbbing elbow by sending me a lovely Ki5.

I've put gut mains, Wilson Shock Shield at 60# in this last time I strung my ki5. More power than I expected. Next time I'll go up to 62. Plays very good though, and very easy on the arm. I've tried gut/poly at 58/53 and the gut/SS at 60 is a lot easier on the arm.

i have recently started playing with the PK redondo type C mid which i think is really great. i thought i would buy a BA93 as well, but very confusing understanding all these different models and after hours on the net - ive come to the following:
BA93 - US MODEL - not perfect / bit too high SW for me so i thought not to go for it......
BA 93 2012 -US MODEL - better specs for my liking - but at present, no reviews or customer comments - so maybe not such a good idea, because people talk about the BA98 2012 being not as good as the earlier version...? (if contruction / material / technology gives any indication about the feel and playability of the racket)
BA 93- 315g -EURO (a 2012 model according to TWE) - very similar to the BA93 2012 US MOD in specs (no flex value) but not the same racket - but maybe good because 100% graphite and nicer paintjob?

so the question is should i go for the EURO 315g version or the US 2012 version. has anyone tested these rackets and able to compare them with REDONDO or BA93 (not 2012). all info is welcomed cause i gotta make my order soon....

i have recently started playing with the PK redondo type C mid which i think is really great. i thought i would buy a BA93 as well, but very confusing understanding all these different models and after hours on the net - ive come to the following:
BA93 - US MODEL - not perfect / bit too high SW for me so i thought not to go for it......
BA 93 2012 -US MODEL - better specs for my liking - but at present, no reviews or customer comments - so maybe not such a good idea, because people talk about the BA98 2012 being not as good as the earlier version...? (if contruction / material / technology gives any indication about the feel and playability of the racket)
BA 93- 315g -EURO (a 2012 model according to TWE) - very similar to the BA93 2012 US MOD in specs (no flex value) but not the same racket - but maybe good because 100% graphite and nicer paintjob?

so the question is should i go for the EURO 315g version or the US 2012 version. has anyone tested these rackets and able to compare them with REDONDO or BA93 (not 2012). all info is welcomed cause i gotta make my order soon....

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I have both the old Black Ace Mid and the '2012 US' mid model. Pretty much the exact same racquet, just slightly less swingweight than the old one. Feel is identical. So is the paintjob. I honestly feel like PK must have just had an extra set of Black Ace Mids that came in under spec and they gave them to TW to sell as the '2012' model, because there were only a small handful available, can't find them anywhere else and the paintjob and feel is completely the same... Both amazing sticks. If you're leery of the higher swingweight, jump on the 2012 if you still even can.

I have both the old Black Ace Mid and the '2012 US' mid model. Pretty much the exact same racquet, just slightly less swingweight than the old one. Feel is identical. So is the paintjob. I honestly feel like PK must have just had an extra set of Black Ace Mids that came in under spec and they gave them to TW to sell as the '2012' model, because there were only a small handful available, can't find them anywhere else and the paintjob and feel is completely the same... Both amazing sticks. If you're leery of the higher swingweight, jump on the 2012 if you still even can.

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excellent info JGads - thank you. just what i was wondering about. it is going to make things much easier for decision making and securing a racket in time. your theory about these mystical BA93 2012 models is also pretty good....

PK grip is sorta like Dunlop, just a tad more rectangular. As for size, umm ... may be (a big may be) a tad smaller than the number says compared to Wilson. This could be due to the shape that may give the "illusion" that it's smaller. Not a deal breaker.

I've put gut mains, Wilson Shock Shield at 60# in this last time I strung my ki5. More power than I expected. Next time I'll go up to 62. Plays very good though, and very easy on the arm. I've tried gut/poly at 58/53 and the gut/SS at 60 is a lot easier on the arm.

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Interesting. I thought Shock Shield was a dead and fairly stiff multi.

I dislike the Ki5, but I've acclimated to it. It's the only thing I can play without pain right now. The Q Tour feels a lot better to me, but the weight bothers my arm. The Q5 is a slightly stiffer Ki5 and I will likely move to that.

Years of shoulder problems finally led me the the 5g a couple of years ago and I haven't looked back. Does everything well, though it took me awhile to get my serve back up to the velocity I wanted it. It swings lighter than the KIi 5, which I did not like as well. Just a great arm friendly all court racquet.